In response to a video posted by The Daily Caller showing Microsoft chairman Bill Gates revealing that President Obama told him he supports a national energy consumption tax, a White House official told TheDC that President Obama opposes such a policy.

“The President has long opposed any type of national energy consumption tax,” the White House official told TheDC via email.

“He remains focused on an all-of-the-above strategy that develops every source of American energy and reduces our dependence on foreign oil. The President is always interested in hearing about ideas on energy policy, and while he strongly supports additional research and development for renewables, he believes a national energy consumption tax is a bad idea.” (WATCH: Bill Gates: Obama told me energy consumption tax ‘makes sense’)

During a panel discussion alongside U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, a White House appointee, Gates said Obama told him a national energy tax “makes sense.”